NVIDIA will be releasing 55nm versions of the G200 graphics processor, which provides better thermal and power characteristics. What's more, NVIDIA could allow its partners to come up with their own designs or colour themes right away, at least from what can be seen with the Zotac GeForce GTX 260². The card uses a blue PCB, without a cooler shroud at the back of it. In the current iteration of the GeForce 200 series, memory chips are also located at the back of the card, requiring a heatspreader. In the newest iteration of the PCB, several changes are brought about :

Memory chips located only on one side of the PCB, leaving nothing at the back-side of the PCB that requires cooling, hence no heatspreader

The GPU is marked G200-103-B2 indicating it has been manufactured under the 55nm node. The card's cooler has been reportedly designed by Cooler Master, it is a monolithic surface with copper contacts over crucial components, with thermal pads. The GPU uses a fluid thermal compound to make contact with the cooler. Below are pictures showing the differences between the current GeForce GTX 200 PCB and the one that the new GTX 260 will sport, among other details. The card is expected to hit retail channels by January.

The die still looks to be the same size as the 65nm part, and it still requires twin 6-pin power connectors. In short, it doesn't look like much of an improvement to me; why didn't nVidia just slap the 55nm chip on the current GTX 260/280 PCB?

It seems to me that the only thing this new PCB will do is give waterblock manufacturers more business. Also, WTF is up with shaving the thin strip off the top of the PCB? That ensures you won't be able to SLI these new cards with an older 260 if you're using a rigid SLI bridge.

Of course, the proof will be in the clocks, but I really don't see the necessity of this new design.

I can't say I am happy about the toned down power phases, this will certainly hurt overclocking. I'd be surprised if the new 55nm parts don't reach the about the same overclock speeds due to the lacking power phases.

by: newtekie1I can't say I am happy about the toned down power phases, this will certainly hurt overclocking. I'd be surprised if the new 55nm parts don't reach the about the same overclock speeds due to the lacking power phases.

Was thinking the same thing. It's obvious the ass-kicking they took having to lower prices played a big factor in this design. My brand new $229 core 216's are looking very good right now..

by: SteelSixWas thinking the same thing. It's obvious the ass-kicking they took having to lower prices played a big factor in this design. My brand new $229 core 216's are looking very good right now..

Where did you get core 216 for $229, the lowest i see it for is around 240.

I was tempted to buy a XFX GTX260 black edition last night for 300 bucks and 40 rebate, but something told me to hold off a bit longer, i'm glad i did.

On the other hand i was thinking about getting one at the bay for $240 BIN with 25% cashback.

by: newtekie1I can't say I am happy about the toned down power phases, this will certainly hurt overclocking. I'd be surprised if the new 55nm parts don't reach the about the same overclock speeds due to the lacking power phases.

Expreview:

Previous version of GTX260’s features 3+2 phase power module (The 3 CSP sealed Volterra VT1195SF MULTIPHASE chip would be most eye-catching).

Remark by one of AIC: the difficulty in purchasing Volterra has resulted in limits to mass production.

New P654 power modules has upgraded to 4+2 phase, equipping solid-state capacitor, magnetism shield inductance and MOSFET. Where the two 6Pin are connected features a large input inductance separately. Therefore, the reduced difficulties in design will bring down the cost.

Toned down in this case means simpler to make, as the new card will have one extra phase. Now I don't know a lot about these things, but I suppose 4 "simpler" modules are going to be better than the complex 3 phase Volterra chip.

Toned down in this case means simpler to make, as the new card will have one extra phase. Now I don't know a lot about these things, but I suppose 4 "simpler" modules are going to be better than the complex 3 phase Volterra chip.

I'd prefer standard phases over digital phases for several reasons, though normal phases could have vdroop. Digital = runs hot and drains more power.

Anyway this is good as it drops the GTX260's manufacturing cost down to around 9800GTX level which means lower prices.

by: OnBoard[quote=Assimilator]Also, WTF is up with shaving the thin strip off the top of the PCB? That ensures you won't be able to SLI these new cards with an older 260 if you're using a rigid SLI bridge.

It's not shaved, it has PCB added near the power plugs. SLI will work fine (if it is possible to mix & match, don't know).[/quote]D'oh, didn't notice that. Still, I wonder why it requires a larger PCB than the cards it's replacing, if it's supposed to be a smaller manufacturing process and hence, run cooler. Perhaps it's due to the additional power phase they're adding, as well as the fact that the memory chips are all clumped together on one side of the card.